Name the British General who was responsible for ordering the firing on the peaceful gathering during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919.

Introduction / Context:
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar on 13 April 1919 is one of the most tragic and defining events of modern Indian history. It marked a turning point in the freedom struggle by exposing the brutal nature of colonial rule to a wide audience in India and abroad. The question tests knowledge of the British military officer who gave the direct order to fire without warning on a peaceful gathering of men, women, and children inside the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh. Knowing his name and role is important for understanding how British repression radicalised nationalist opinion and led to stronger demands for complete independence rather than limited reforms.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event referred to is the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar. • The incident took place in April 1919 after the passing of the Rowlatt Act. • A British General ordered troops to fire on an unarmed crowd. • The question asks for the name of that British General.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this general knowledge question, we recall key facts about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Two names are often associated with it: General Reginald Dyer, who commanded the troops and ordered the firing, and Lieutenant Governor Michael O Dwyer, who supported and defended the action. Many students confuse these two names. The correct approach is to carefully distinguish between the officer on the spot who gave the order to fire and the civil administrator who justified it later. The question clearly asks for the British General who was directly responsible for the firing in Jallianwala Bagh.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the event as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. Step 2: Recall that troops of the British Indian Army surrounded the enclosed garden where a peaceful gathering was taking place on the festival of Baisakhi. Step 3: The officer in command of these troops was Brigadier General Reginald Edward Harry Dyer. Step 4: Without issuing any warning or order to disperse, Dyer ordered his soldiers to open fire on the crowd and to continue firing until ammunition was nearly exhausted. Step 5: Historical records and later inquiries clearly hold General Dyer personally responsible for the decision to fire and for the high number of casualties. Step 6: Therefore, among the given options, the correct answer is Dyer.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify this by cross checking with any standard textbook of modern Indian history or reliable exam oriented study material. The name of the officer is always given as General Reginald Dyer. He was later criticised in the Hunter Commission report and was forced to retire, although some sections of the British public initially hailed him as a hero. By contrast, Hastings, Cornwallis, and Dalhousie were Governors General or important administrators of earlier periods and had no connection with the Jallianwala Bagh incident of 1919. This confirms that Dyer is the only historically accurate choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Hastings: Refers to Warren Hastings, an early Governor General of Bengal and later of India in the late eighteenth century, long before 1919, so he could not be connected with Jallianwala Bagh. Cornwallis: Lord Cornwallis served as Governor General in the late eighteenth century and is remembered for the Permanent Settlement; he had no role in the massacre at Amritsar. Dalhousie: Lord Dalhousie was Governor General in the mid nineteenth century and is associated with the Doctrine of Lapse and railway and telegraph development, not with events of 1919. Wavell: Lord Wavell was Viceroy of India in the 1940s during the Second World War era, much later than the Jallianwala Bagh incident.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse General Dyer with Michael O Dwyer because their names sound similar and both were involved in Punjab administration at the time. A common mistake is to write O Dwyer when asked for the British General, even though O Dwyer was the Lieutenant Governor and not a military commander. Another error is to mix up Governors General from much earlier periods, such as Hastings or Dalhousie, with events that occurred decades later. Careful attention to time period and official role helps to avoid these mistakes in history based examinations.

Final Answer:
The British General responsible for ordering the firing on the gathering during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 was Dyer.